Picture frame



' Feb. 25, 19.58 J.' G. sToRM 2,824,398

PIGTURE FRAME Filed Feb. 3, 1955 /r fav f/ ipg'/ 2.911 si s l United States Patent() PICTURE FRAME John G. Storm, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application February 3, 1955, Serial No. 485,871

Claims. (Cl. 40-155) The invention relates to picture frames.

The main object of the invention is to provide a frame structure, for use in framing pictures of varying sizes or dimensions by the omission or inclusion of frame elements and the relative spacing of these elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a picture frame in which the frame elements are spaced relative to each other to give a pleasing or artistic appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame structure in which the frame elements are made up by the use of two or three basic parts which with retainers can be furnished in a set to form frames of a wide range of sizes and only a small number of different sets, for example three, need be stocked to cover a complete range of picture sizes, thus simplifying manufacture, stocking, and sales distribution. For example, one set of frame parts can be used to frame pictures in the size range of four by four inches to twelve by twelve inches.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame structure in which all the elements forming the frame are made up of blocks or parts whose edges are cut on an angle of forty-live degrees, thus simplifying the making of corner pieces by the use of two of these parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame structure in which the blocks or frame molding parts are secured together by retainer members engaging in grooves formed in the blocks and which retainer members also hold the picture elements in assembled position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of members which may be used as easels to mount the frame on a 'support or may be used as hanger clips for connection of a hanging cord or wire with the frame.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly delined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a picture frame embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detailed vertical sectional View taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical sectional view taken on the the line 44 of Fig. l with an easel member associated therewith;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 1 showing other forms of frame that can be made;

Fig. 7 is a rear view of an intermediate portion of a frame using spliced retainer members;

Fig. 8 is a rear view of a corner portion of the frame;

Fig. 9 is a detailed vertical sectional view of one of the retainer members.

Referring to the drawings, the frames shown in Figs. l, 5, and 6 may all be made up from three basic elements or blocks 9, 10, and 11, all of which blocks have their side edges cut at an angle of forty-live degrees to the vertical so that mitered edges are formed to readily permit joining two of the blocks together to form a corner Mice member 12.' Each block 9 has its forty-live degree side edges 13 making `an angle of ninety degrees with each other but preferably not meeting but spaced to form a border edge 14. Two of the blocks 9 suitably glued together at their adjoining mitered edges form the corner member 12 of which two may be used as shown in Fig. l or four may be used as shown in Fig. 6.

Each block 10 has forty-live degree parallel side edges 15 while the blocks 11 are similar except that their parallel side edges 16 are disposed at ninety degrees to the side edges 15 so that the joining of a block 10 and a block 11 by gluing their adjoining mitered edges together forms a corner member 17. Two of these corner members are shown in the frames of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, small frames may be formed by corner members only. In Fig. 5 sets of oppositely disposed corner members 12 and 17 are used to form a frame, or this frame may be formed of corner members of the same kind, such as shown in Fig. 6, where the corner members 12 are shown. The corner members 17 may also form the four corners of the frame, and in this connection Where a larger frame is desired, one of the blocks 9 may be interposed between and in spaced relation to said corner members 17. In Fig. l single blocks 10 may be used at the top and bottom of the frame and single blocks 11 at the sides of the frame. If the frame has the corner members 17 at all four corners, then for larger size frames either a single block 9 or such block with blocks 10 and 11 may be used at the top, bottom, or sides of the frame.

The members 9, 10, and 11 may have any desired front molding face configuration and may be cut from strips of wood or molded plastic or other suitable material. The inner sides of these strips are formed to provide a ledge 18 which makes an angle with an inclined or tapered edge 19, preferably a forty-live degree angle. A lengthwise extending groove 20, parallel to the ledge 18,

extends inwardly from the inner side of the edge 19, and

a lengthwise extending recess 21 is formed in the ledge portion between the groove 20 and the Outer side of the ledge. The strips thus formed are cut up into blocks to form the three basic form blocks 9, 10, and 11.

Retainer members or strips 22 of yieldable material, such as formed thin sheet metal (shim stock) or plastic, are adapted to engage with a yielding pressure in the grooved portion of each block to hold the frame parts `in assembled relation and the picture elements in the frame. Each strip has side portions 23 and 24 extending at an angle to each other, preferably at a somewhat greater angle than forty-five degrees7 for example, fifty degrees, that when assembled with the blocks, the sides 23 and 24 will exert a yielding pressure on the ledge portion and the tapered edge portion 19 of the blocks. The side portion 23 preferably has a short upturned front edge 25, and the side portion 24 has a tongue or rib portion 26 extending outwardly therefrom at or adjacent the joinder of the portions 23 and 24 with each other, said tongue portion adapted to engage in the grooves 20 when the strip is assembled with the blocks, the side portion 23 then fitting in the recesses 21 of the blocks and the side portion 24 abutting the edge 19 thereof. When thus assembled, the side portions 23 and 24 form picture element receiving recesses having a ledge and an opposed tapered or wedging side.

The strips or retainer members 22 furnished with any set of frame parts are long enough to connect the corner members together for the largest picture and may be cut to the desired length by the user for smaller size pictures. In making up the frame, the strips 22 can be securely anchored to the corner members 12 or 17 by gluing their ends to the frame by suitable adhesive 27 as shown in Fig. 8. If after making up a smaller frame, it is desired In framing a picture, the cornermembe'rs 12 for :17

and the intermediate members such `as'a1`1d.11`, or4 in some instances 9, are connected together .by sliding the' strips "into the grooves formed by the ledge .portion and the edge19 to provide a ledge dimensionwhich on the inversion of the frame thus formed will permit they glassr 29 to be laid down onthis ledgeswith the picture 3G and backing. member 31 superimposed thereon together with a matting 32, 'if desired. Thereafter, the retainer. members 22 are pushed further into the corner members so thatthe corner members are drawnttoward each oth'er until the glass,- picture, backing, and.matting,.if used, are

brought into abutting contact with the .wedging or tapered edge 19 and ythus tightly held in the .frame between the ledge 18 and said edge 19. The strips may then be rmly anchored to the corner members by` adhesive 27 as noted above. The intermediate members 10, 11, and 9, if any,

may thenbe moved on the' strips to .provide the` .desired spacing between them and the strips.

To permit ready hanging or standing up of the framed picture, two members 33 are provided. Each member 33 is a metal strip having an outwardly bent end tongue or flange 34 at one end and an inwardly bent tongue or ange 3S at its other end. Each of therear sides of the corner members whether they be blocksy 9, 10, or 11 are provided with a groove 36 extending at an angle, preferably forty-ve degrees, with thistside of the frame. Inserton of the end tongues 34 with oppositely disposed corner members of the finished frame permits these members 33 to cooperate with the bottom edges of the blocks to'hold the frame in a standing position as shown in Fig. 4 in connection with one of the members 33. Insertion of the end tongues or anges 35 in the grooves 36 of oppositely disposed corner members, such as for example the upper corner members 12 and 17, shown in Fig. l, in the manner shown in Fig. 3 and the cross connection of these members 33 by a cord or wire 37 that may `pass through a hole 38 formed in the intermediate portion of each of these members 33 permits the framed picture being mounted on any suitable wall hanger member in the usual way of hanging pictures.

It is` to be noted that the strips 33 when used as stand forming supports can be bent intermediate their ends to dispose the frame at a diterentangle than that shown in Fig. 4,if desired.

I desireit to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to any particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a picture frame, the combination of a series of blocks, each having a molding face and a picture supporting ledge portion, some of the blocks being joined together to form cornertmembers, all of the blocks having a tapered edge. facing said ledge portion, and yieldable retainer strips having ledge portions and tapered portions mounted in gripping relation with said ledge portion and tapered edge of said blocks to hold the blocks in assembled position and the picture elements in position in said strips.

2. In a picture frame, the combination of a series of blocks, each having a molding face, a picture supporting ledge portion and a wedge portion .facing said ledge portion, some of the blocks being joined together to form corner members, the ledge portion of each block being recessed back from its outer edge, and yieldable retainer strips of V formhaving a side portion mounted in the recesses of said ledge portion of the blocks and a side portion abutting said wedge portions of said blocks, said strips when in assembled position being under a predetermined .tension to normally hold the same in gripping relation with said blocks and also the picture elements in wedging relation with'said blocks and strips.

3. The picture frame as defined in claim 2 wherein the side portion of each, strip that is mounted in the recesses of the ledge portions of the blocks has a laterally projecting front edge.

4. The picture frame as defined in claim 1 wherein all the blocks have a groove extending inwardly from said wedge portion parallel to the ledge of said ledge portion and the stripshave tongue portions engaging in said grooves.

5. The picture frame as dened in claim 2 wherein all the blockshave a groove extending inwardly from the inner end of said wedge portion substantially parallel to the ledge` of said ledge portion and the strips have tongue portions engaging in said grooves.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 911,530 Ulmen Feb. 2, 1909 1,558,987 Kallscheuer Oct. 27, 1925 2,601,734 Couzinet July 1, 1952 

